Sprinter Esmie has kind words for Ben Johnson

The new inductees into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame pose for a group photo in Toronto on Wednesday, November 5, 2008. They are (left to right, rear): Steve Yzerman, Marc Gagnon, Lennox Lewis, Pat Gillick and David Dore. Front row: Carlton Chambers, Robert Esmie, Donovan Bailey, Glenroy Gilbert and Bruny Surin. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/J.P. Moczulski)

Linking oneself to Ben Johnson is a dangerous thing in the world of Canadian track and field but Robert Esmie has no problem showing the disgraced sprinter some love.

Esmie gave Johnson - who was stripped of his 100-metre gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics after testing positive for steroids - heaps of credit for his success before getting inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

“At the end of the day I know I probably ended up ruffling a few feathers there but it’s not about that,” Esmie said in an interview. “This is about where I reached in life as an individual and what process was taken to get there.

“As a child, I was fortunate enough to meet Ben and he took me under his wing as a junior development athlete.”

Johnson’s sad saga remains a sore spot in Canadian sports and any association with him can often be enough to invite suspicions of steroid use.

However Esmie, who helped Canada’s 4x100-metre relay team win gold at the 1996 Olympics, remembers a different Johnson, one who helped cover his training and medical expenses when he was just starting out.

Five-time Olympic sprinter Charmaine Crooks helped Esmie later in his career, but he remains grateful for the assistance Johnson gave him in the beginning.

“I don’t care who may say whatever,” said Esmie. “This is what he has done for me as an individual, this is the heart the man has. Whatever he’s done, that’s his stuff. But this is part of who he is, as well, and I’m thankful for meeting him at that time of my life.”